On the occasion of Paris Photo 2026, ECAL presents Soft Photography – Human Emotions and Machine-Generated Images. Through two exhibitions and a publication, this research project examines the place of AI-generated images in contemporary visual culture.
How do we respond to AI-generated and CGI images? What role do these representations play in contemporary visual culture? Soft Photography – Human Emotions and Machine-Generated Images reflects on the use of generative photographic technologies through the lens of emotion.
Developed as a research project at ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne, it takes as its starting point the central role of our emotional responses to the constant flow of images on social media — from oddly satisfying videos and ASMR to rage-bait and propaganda. Bringing together artistic experimentation and theoretical inquiry, Soft Photography examines how images are increasingly designed to hold our attention indefinitely, highlighting how the engineering of affect has become a defining logic of contemporary photographic culture.
Discover Soft Photography in the exhibitions at the Paris Photo fair and at Espace Commines. Pick up the illustrated catalogue there too, published by ECAL and Les presses du réel.
Thursday, November 12, 06:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 11:00 a.m. – in English
Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14 – times to be confirmed
Espace Commines
17, rue Commines
75003 Paris
Admission fee
Place
Grand Palais
Avenue Winston-Churchill
75008 Paris
Dates
Wednesday, November 11 (by invitation only) – 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 12 – 01:00 p.m.–08:00 p.m.
Friday, November 13 – 01:00 p.m.–08:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14 – 01:00 p.m.–08:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15 – 01:00 p.m.–07:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 12 – 03:30 p.m.
Fragile images. Photographic emotions in CGI and AI imaging – a conversation between Charlie Engman and Marco De Mutiis
